Now that all of you are back from the Vegas Bash, and the rest of us Pity Party goers are up off the couch - is anybody willing or interested in participating in an exercise challenge?

I'm not thinking anything drastic - just more than what we're already doing. I think the goal should be for a 'heart healthy' 30 minutes of activity a day, at least 3 days a week. Anything more is a bonus and worth an extra woo-hoo from the group!

Anything counts - weights (Darcy), walking, bike riding (Marie), playing tag with the kids (all the Moms out there), dancing your a** off (Leatha and Lisa).

I know Penni wants to do a 5K here soon, and this would be a way we could all get going with our exercise.

I would love to hear suggestions, comments, any type of feedback.

Do I have any takers?

Becky - You are such a sweetie! I have a hard time going to the gym, but I will come home and walk on the treadmill. I guess when it is time to come home that is what I want to do. I just can't sit down or I'm done. I'll look forward to your post tomorrow telling me you exercised!

When I post here, it keeps me honest and makes me want to do it. So, thanks to all of you for making me just do it!

OK: didn't exercise today and probably won't for the rest of the week. You know just when I get on an exercise routine something happens to throw me off. I went to bed last night with an excruciating pain in my port area. I had on Lortab left over from my July surgery and so I took it. I got groggy but not sleepy and the pain stuck around. I did not get much sleep. The pain can only be described as this: It felt like I had just had the surgery and the port pain that goes along with it. Very muscular type achiness with occasional sharp pains that subside but never truly goes away.

I called Dr. Billy this morning expecting him to not get back to me till tomorrow. Then I get a phone call about two hours later and he is on the other end. I just love him. He said I probably pulled a stitch and that is what is causing my pain. I am using a heating pad and taking Liquid Tylenol for the pain during the day and just gritting my teeth when I have to use those muscles in my abdomen which is all the time. LOL!!! NOthing much else to do at this point but to let it heal.

I will most likely not do anything strenuous over the next few days to give it time to heal. SIGH!! I hate this. I will probably gain at least a pound since I can't exercise like I want to. SIGH!! Only time will tell.

This really bites. I can only think of one thing I did that could have pulled the stitch. That was to lift a dining room chair. They are really heavy chairs. Oh well. Who knew?

Finally, pain is gone and I can bike ride again!! So I've got to make up for that lost 2 1/2 weeks!

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Today....10 miles bicyling each day.

Penni - Sorry you are having problems with your port. Get a lot of rest and maybe it will subside faster.

Marie - Great job!

Leatha - THINKING! I guess that would count for a little You did some exercise the day before, that counts better!

Great job everyone!

Penni, that sucks. I hope you feel better. Make that husband of yours do all the lifting, heavy or not!

I'm still in my dog-walking groove: at least 45 min. every morning at a good pace that gets my heart pumping. The big November rains haven't started yet, so I haven't had a recent day when I just want to stay in bed. I feel great, but that scale just won't go down! Oh well. I've joined the scale challenge, which is harder for me than this exercise challenge; I shaved my legs yesterday and had to stop myself from jumping on the scale to see how much I'd lost to the razor!

Penni,

Hope you feel better soon.

I know about pain in the port area. I was reaching into a shopping cart to get some screws off the bottom of the cart, at Home Depot and I caught to edge of the cart right on my port. Geeeeeeeez that hurt. Now my port is tipped up slightly and I think thats a result of the "Edge of the cart vs the port area confllict." doesn't hurt anymore but now my port is kind of visible when I stand up. When I look down I can see it stick out (along with other things I haven't seen from this view in many years)....

Get minds out of gutters speaking of my toes.

My husband walked me and the dog this morning. 45 minutes. It's a beautiful sunny day.

I hope your port feels better soon, Penni. :cry

Well I feel MUCHO better this morning. NO pain. HOORAY!!! I even tested it and went for a 50 min walk (2.2 miles) at a much slower pace than I normally would walk. There were a couple of twinges of pain but nothing like it was. I feel some minor achiness now but heading to the shower and then back on the heating pad for the rest of the day.

Greg: don't let that go too long before you let the doc see it. My port was tilted and almost caused some problems. I had to have a port revision and make it lie flat again. The port being tilted isn't much of an issue unless there is pain or unable to access the thing. The reason to watch it is my tubing attached to the port was also tilted up and was sticking out. I will attach a pic here for a visual of what I mean. It was through the skin but almost.

This is an old pic and is all fixed now. My port lies nice and flat now. Easy access for the doc now as well.

Penni-hope you are feeling better soon. I understand your frustration! Did the doc say how long you would be down?

Last week, I exercised 1-2 times a day at Curves and then Friday night, I did something and hurt my hip. I couldn't lift my leg! I couldn't get in bed without help. All I could think was "dang! I hope I don't gain any weight back!" But-I am better now and carefully did my routine this morning -skipping the machines that might hurt my hip. I'm afraid to get on the scales!

HOLY COW

Why is that so large. I'm not that big in real life LOL

Sorry After you see it penni I'll deleted it

Well Greg: You site looks to be OK. I just wanted to make sure you had it checked out. Glad there isn't anything sticking out like mine was.

Lauri: The doc said to take it easy for a couple of days. I felt so much better this morning that I was able to walk 2.2 miles. So I guess if I am feeling NO pain tomorrow I can resume my normal routine. I know your fears about gaining weight. I had the same thought every time I have to skip my exercise routine for a day or two. It freaks me out. But oh well.

Penni..Im glad you are feeling better today. Somedays my port bothers me more then others. I think it has something to do with losing the wieght. I seem to feel it more then I did 64 lbs ago. Maybe thats all thats your was with the BIG wieght loss this past week that you had I'm having mine checked on Monday..I m going to Tj with my friend who is flying in from PA for her fill, I was going to get another fill but I have got major restriction goin on these days and am still losing every week but with the pains I have been having I want him to look at it under the fluoro to make sure everything is where it should be, band included. I need peace of mind. We all are such worry warts with our bands aren't we? Glad the pain is gone for you.

I will not be adding any weights for some time. I have added plenty over the years that I am forced to carry-I sure as He** am not going to CHOOSE to carry around any more than I already have!

Leatha and Michelle- have you heard about the MICRO ports? When I went to a lap-band seminar a few months ago, they talked about how some people have more problems with their ports sticking out or being uncomfortable as the weight comes off and can now choose to have the ports exchanged.

Wow, Leatha, there's no stopping you now, girl! You're doing great! Yes, I do have a problem with balance and coordination. But then I always have! LOL Leg lifts? What's that? LOL I bought a couple of Yoga for Dummies dvds and didn't even make it through one time! Thought I'd have the big one!